Subway....

Today I went to the "transportation 101" class. We learned about the taxi's, buses, and subway system for Seoul. The class went from 9-3. The first hour we were in the classroom, and the other five hours were spent going here, there and everywhere on the subway.

I was a big rider of the "T" in Boston... having that under my belt was helpful.... however... the subway system here is HUGE. Like. CRAZY huge.

If someone has taken the subway before... they may be able to navigate this system IF they know the stop they need to get on, the stop they need to get off, and the "exit" they need to go out.

Some subway stops have as many as 30 exits and all 30 exits take you to a different location at ground level.

We learned how to understand the "Way Out" signs, the "exit" signs (which are different than "way out" and which don't say "exit"), the line numbers and colors.... We learned how to add money on to our "T money" cards (like any other transporatation card at home)... how to put it in the machine on the way in to the station AS WELL AS on the way out (so you are properly charged for your specific destination).....

It would be very difficult for me to (adequately) describe to you HOW BIG this system is and 

HOW BIG each individual station is.... It's hard to imagine it... you need to see it to believe it.

Our destination was "Lotte World". PLEASE check it out online. Google Seoul City Lotte World... this place is unbelievable.... The subway level has "underground shopping". The next level is full of different kinds of restaurants. The next several levels up are higher end shopping... There is a very large skating rink inside, as well as an amusement park! INSIDE!!! They have a water ride (the kind with the big, plastic log thing that you ride in), "hot air balloon" rides (this runs on tracks on the ceiling), and roller coasters... Did I mention that this is all inside??? Isn't that nuts? And we got there by the subway.....crazy.

It was another great day here in the land of the morning calm....
xo
K.